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21 Years

One odd coincidence with my NaNoWriMo novel is that I will finish it on my 21st anniversary of becoming a pro writer. This is (partly) what that looks like in books:

If I included all of the freelance and ghostwriter work I've done, there would be another four or five shelves. But these two contain what I published under my byline:

When I think of all the work involved it really doesn't look like much. But I'm happy I got the chance to write these stories, and that's what counts.

Over on the NaNoWriMo forums there was a writer asking for opinions about going the traditional publishing route or self-publishing. Since I've done both I replied, but I really thought about it first. I have no regrets about my career. I know it was a privilege to publish traditional. I'll always be grateful for the opportunities I was given. But traditional publishing and the people involved in it also took a lot out of me, and from me, often more than I ever imagined.

The truth is that if I could go back and do it all over again while knowing what I know (and digital publishing was actually an option in 1998) I'd choose the indy path. I seriously doubt I would have been as successful, but I would have been free to do so much more than I did. Now I feel as if I'm finally the writer I was supposed to be, and doing what I love at long last, which is the happiest of endings.

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Comments

nightsmusic said…
I've known you oh...ten years, I guess, first as a fan then as a friend. I knew you were prolific but hooie does that bookshelf put it all in perspective! That's a lot of books ;) I do know how confining traditional publishing can be. A good example of how much so would be Harlequin. But I think it's good you're finally at the place you want to be. Writing should be a joy, not a chore.
November 23, 2019 at 7:50 AM
the author said…
Amen, Sister. :)

After the holidays and all the guests go I think I might put all my freelance and ghostie works into the bookcase, just for fun, and see just how many shelves they take. Some weren't published as print editions, but I can print manuscripts out and put them in notebooks. Would be cool to see if I really do need two bookcases. :)
November 23, 2019 at 9:02 AM
nightsmusic said…
I'm gonna go out on a limb and guess that you might just need three!
November 23, 2019 at 9:13 AM
the author said…
I'll let you know. :)
November 26, 2019 at 5:45 PM
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